Floor covering



H. BOIVIN FLOOR COVERING May 20, 1969 Filed May 5, 1965 /NVE'N'OR Hams 80W/IV Arran/ww.:

United States Patent O 3,445,320 FLOOR COVERING Horace Boivin, P.O. Box 399, 100 Dennison W., Granby, Quebec, Canada Filed May 5, 1965, Ser. No. 453,298 Int. Cl. B32b 27/30, 17/10, 15/20 U.S. Cl. 161--83 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A oor covering formed of a backing layer of foam material covered on one face thereof with a fabric of tightly woven glass fibre followed by a first layer of polyvinyl chloride over the free surface of which a heatabsorbing layer constituted of a plurality of aluminum chips is bonded, and a final facing layer of polyvinyl chloride bonded over said heat-absorbing layer.

The instant invention generally relates to floor covering, more specically cushioned iloor covering, and is an improvement of the oor covering disclosed and claimed in my prior U.S. Patent No. 3,002,868 of Oct. 3, 1961.

In attempting to improve the Wearing qualities of the oor covering of this patent, one of the desired features was to make the wear-resistant resin layer, usually polyvinyl chloride, more resistant to heat, particularly that produced by cigarette butts being put out and crushed, particularly in public buildings. There readily came to mind the use of a thin sheet of a heat-absorbing metal that would lbe inserted between the layer of tightly woven glass fabric and the polyvinyl chloride wear covering. A sheet of aluminum did indeed operate as desired in that it adequately absorbed the heat generated by a cigarette butt, but it had serious disadvantages and drawbacks. When provided with such a metal layer, the floor covering was stiifened and the wear resistant layer tended to be brittle and show cracks thereon when folded or bent even slightly and in some cases caused defacing of the decorative design.

By decreasing the thickness of the metal sheet, it was possible to avoid cracking of the top wear-resistant layer but the heat absorption Was also reduced While wrinkles still Were formed thereon giving the decorative design an unsightly appearance.

I have found that the above-mentioned disadvantages can be overcome with the improvement of my invention which consists in providing two layers of the wearresistant resin, preferably polyvinvyl chloride, and inserting therebetween a layer formed of a plurality of minute pieces of heat-absorbing metal bonded to both the wearresistant resin layers.

It is believed that a better understanding of the invention will be afforded by the description that follows having reference to the appended drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the floor covering of my invention with the various component layers separated and lifted at one corner;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the sponge backing layer and fiber glass layer separated from the wear-resistant layers between which is inserted the layer of metal particles which is the irnprovement of thev invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional View of the oor covering as mounted over a iloor.

The drawing shows a resilient backing layer 1, preferably foam rubber, foam vinyl, or felt paper covered on one face thereof by a fabric 3 of tightly woven glass bers, followed by a rst layer 5 of a wear-resistant resin 3,445,320 Patented May 20, 1969 such as polyvinyl chloride over the free surface of which is laid the layer 7 that constitutes the improvement of the invention and which is formed by a plurality of minute pieces of a heat-absorbing metal and finally the facing layer 9 of a wear-resistant resin, preferably again polyvinyl chloride. The iloor covering is for applying over a door 6, for instance.

All layers are bonded or otherwise held to one another by methods and substances well know in the art.

The minute pieces of metal are sprinkled over the entire surface of layer 5 in such a way that each one touches or contacts an adjacent piece of metal whereby to suitably transmit the heat generated by a cigarette butt, for instance, to the surrounding pieces so that the heat may be absorbed by as much of this layer of metal as possible.

I have found that the pieces of metal should preferably be somewhat diamond-shaped or shaped like stars or have a configuration which is suitable for proper contact between adjacent pieces. The density of the metal pieces 1slhould be suicient to ensure proper distribution of the eat.

As an example, I have found that pieces of metal having overall dimensions of about 1A of an inch to of an inch with a thickness varying from 0.001 to 0.005 inch will do very well to provide the necessary heat transmission while retaining the desired flexibility of the material.

The metal pieces could be made of any of the known heat-absorbing metals that could be available at low cost, such as aluminum, zinc, lead, tin or copper with aluminum being the preferred metal.

In the usual manner, the facing layer of polyvinyl chloride can be provided with an inlaid or printed design and its surface may be slightly textured by well-known techniques.

With the improvement of the invention, apart from providing appreciable ilexibility, I have found that a cigarette butt which usually emits heat to a temperature of approximately 1200 F. will cause the heat to dissipate to the point where the temperature falls down to approximately 500 to 550 F. Now polyvinyl chloride can withstand a temperature in the area of 400 and 420 F However, the damage as caused by such a cigarette would be small and generally imperceptible, particularly if trouble is taken to remove the nicotine by appropriate means thereafter.

As mentioned previously, the presence of the minute metal pieces rather than the use of a complete sheet of the same metal has the advantage that the oor covering is more flexible and less brittle as well as providing better bonding qualities between the aluminum and the two layers of polyvinylchloride.

It has also been found that the improvement of the invention may advantageously be incorporated `between the two layers of the wear-resistant resin, one of which is bonded directly to the resilient backing layer.

I claim:

1. In a ioor covering having a backing layer of resilient material, a layer of fibre glass woven fabric bonded to said backing layer, the improvement in the combination therewith comprising:

(a) a layer of a wear-resistant resin bonded to said glass fabric;

(b) a heat-absorbing metallic layer formed by a plurality of minute pieces of a heat-absorbing metal, each metal piece so disposed as to contact at least one adjacent piece in a manner to provide heat dispersion; said last-named layer bonded to and covering the entire surface of said wear-resistant resin, and

3 4 (c) a further layer of a wear-resistant resin bonded t0 References Cited said layer of metal pieces. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2. A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said 3 157 561 11/1964 Miner et al' 161 413 metal Pieces ae aiummum'. 3:14:2:580 7/1964 Holoubek er ai 161-6 X 3. A combination as claimed 1n clalm 1, Wherem Sald 5 3 049 459 8/1962 Smith et aL 161 3 wear-resistant resin is polyvinyl chloride. 0023363 10/1961 Boivin 161 93 X 4. A COmbnatiOn aS Claimed in Claim 3, wherein Said 2,875,087 2/1959 Crandon 161 3.5 X metal pieces are generally elongated with overall dimen- 2,750,300 6/1955 Kukof 161 g7 X sions ranging from 1A in. to in. and a thickness ranging from 0.001 im to 0.005 IL lO ROBERT F. BURNETT, Przmary Examiner.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein said Ml A LITMAN, Assistant Examiner, backing layer is felt paper.

6, A combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein said U'S C1' XR' backing layer is foamed rubber. 52-306; 161--84, 87, 93, 160, 162 

